Spellbinder I: episode guide

The Big Bang

Episode 1
Written by Mark Shirrefs and John Thomson
Directed by Noel Price

While on a school camping trip to view a solar eclipse, Paul Reynolds and his friend Alex decide to play a practical joke on two female classmates who are exploring a 'haunted' cave set inside an unusual magnetic rock formation.

Paul and Alex want to scare the girls by having Paul dress up as a ghost, but the cable they rig up for Paul to slide down passes too close to some overhead power lines causing an electrical surge to pass through the cable and explode, sending Paul through a strange portal and into a parallel universe.

Unsure of his new surroundings, Paul encounters a strange man who is upset at Paul for taking his 'Eyestone', an odd devise Paul finds on the ground. Paul flees from the man and spends the night asleep under a pile of leaves. In the morning, Paul comes across a seemingly deserted campsite where he is set upon by an unknown person.

Note: the writing and directing credits are the same for all episodes and will not be repeated.

Where Am I?

Episode 2

Paul's captor turns out to be a young girl who thinks Paul is a Marauder. Fearful of the solar eclipse which begins overhead, she believes Paul to be its cause, a belief he exploits to earn his freedom. When the girl runs away, Paul pursues her and saves her from drowning only to see her run off again.

After witnessing an attack on a pair of travellers by some actual Marauders, Paul comes across a settlement. In the village, Paul once again encounters the girl and returns her trade goods which she left behind in the forest. Taking in the state of the settlement, Paul is convinced he has travelled back in time.

When he innocently helps a young man build a flying toy, Paul attracts the attention of a powerful woman — a Spellbinder — who warns everyone in the village that it is forbidden by the Spellbinders to build new things. Paul escapes and flees into the forrest with the help of the girl, Riana, who is now convinced Paul can't be a Marauder after he saved her life and returned her belongings. In the forrest, a Spellbinder flying craft passes overhead and Paul quickly realises he is not in the past.

Meanwhile, the police and Paul's classmates are busy searching for him. Alex and Katrina's story of Paul's disappearance doesn't go over well with the police, forcing the kids to come up with another explanation for what happened to their friend.

Finding the Way Home

After they narrowly escape the Spellbinder's flying machine, Paul tries to convince Riana that he's not dangerous to be around, and wins her over by showing her his cassette player.

Paul stumbles across a mining operation and comes away puzzled about the magnetic rocks being gathered for the Spellbinders.

Returning to the spot where he entered Riana's world, a Spellbinder Summoning Tower, Paul gets a fleeting glimpse of his father when another portal is opened when a Summoner arrives and activates the tower. On Paul's world, the overhead cable is cut down closing the portal closes before Paul can pass through but he is spotted on the other side by Katrina. Unfortunately, she's the only one who sees Paul and once again her story is not believed by Paul's father or the police.

Once again finding himself stranded with Riana, and now with seemingly no hope of returning home, Paul returns with Riana to her humble village where she hopes her parents might be able to help but Paul's presence cannot be kept secret for long...

It Isn't Magic, It's Science

Episode 4

Riana and her parents protect Paul from the inquisitive Summoner by telling him that Paul is Riana's cousin.

Paul attracts the attention of Gryvon, the Summoner's son and apprentice, when he creates some labour-saving devices while working in the fields with Riana, and again when he saves the life of Riana's little brother who nearly drowns.

Picking up a Spellbinder broadcast on his radio, Paul wants to observe the Spellbinders when they cast a 'powerful spell' to bring an end to a blight affecting the villagers' crops. When he sees a Spellbinder flying ship spraying the crops, Paul tries to explain to Riana that the Spellbinders aren't magicians — they are using science!

Hoping the Spellbinders knowledge of science can help him get home, Paul explains to Gryvon that he is from another world and asks to be taken to the Spellbinders' castle to ask for their help. Unfortunately, Gryvon doesn't believe him.

Later, when the village is attacked by Marauders, Paul scares them off using fireworks he created to demonstrate his knowledge of science to Gryvon. For using his 'magic', Paul is imprisoned. Paul wants to prove he's actually from another world by showing off his video camera but Riana's little sister has taken the tape. Locked up, Paul sees an opportunity to plead his case directly to the Spellbinders as he wanted but doesn't anticipate being banished to the wastelands.

Meanwhile, Katrina believes that Paul has somehow been pulled into another dimension. Despite having a hard time convincing anyone else of her theory, she is determined to prove it to be true.

Secrets

Episode 5

Ashka, a Spellbinder transports Paul to the Spellbinder's castle to appear before the Regents.

Riana finds Paul's missing videotape but when she takes it to the Summoner to prove Paul's story, she finds only Gryvon at home. Determined to help Paul, Riana decides to travel to the Spellbinder's castle.

At the castle, Paul tries to explain to Ashka that he has no magic but is in fact from another world. Ashka appeals on his behalf to the Regents for leniency in light of Paul driving off the Marauders, but on the strength of Paul's own admissions, he is ordered to be banished. Paul speaks up with a demonstration of his otherworldly belongings but only manages to earn a delay while the Regents examine his things.

In the castle cells, Paul is reunited with Zander, the young man he helped build a flying toy in Rivertown. Zander is also scheduled to be banished for breaking the Spellbinder's laws.

En route to the Spellbinder castle, Riana crosses paths with Gryvon.

Back in Paul's world, Katrina tries to convince a sceptical Alex of her theory that Paul is in a parallel world to their own and needs their help to get home.

Show Me Your World

Episode 6

Gryvon arrives at the Spellbinders' castle with some of Paul's leftover fireworks to show Ashka. Suitably impressed, Ashka wants the secret from Paul and goes about befriending Paul hoping to see what other useful things he may know.

Sneaking into the castle, Riana encounters Correon in his lab studying Paul's possessions. Showing him Paul's videotape, Correon and the other Regents are quickly convinced that Paul comes from another world and reluctantly agree to question him further instead of banishing him.

Unfortunately for Riana, Correon tells her she's seen too much of the Spellbinders' world inside the castle and will not be allowed to return home but must stay on as a servant — the only alternative is banishment to the wasteland.

Under the guise of setting him free, Ashka spirits Paul out of the cells to keep him out of the Regents' hands, transferring him to the castle cellar — she wants the secret to the gunpowder! To keep Riana out of her way, Ashka sets up Riana to take the blame for Paul's "escape".

Meanwhile, back in Paul's world Katrina blackmails Alex into helping her approach Paul's father with her theory about Paul's disappearance. Paul's father is unimpressed with Katrina's findings and is convinced Paul matches the description of a boy spotted in the bush 30km away. Katrina remains adamant and Alex sheepishly admits he may have seen Paul when he tried to return through the portal.

The Gunpowder Plot

Episode 7

With a promise to be set free if he reveals the secret to making gunpowder, Paul keeps Gryvon busy preparing a diversionary concoction while he creates the real thing himself to provide a proper demonstration for Ashka. Not trusting Paul, Ashka has Gryvon secretly follow Paul's instructions on his own to make another batch of gunpowder to check the accuracy of Paul's recipe.

Escaping from Ashka in the castle cells, Riana disguises herself as a castle worker to hide in plain sight. After witnessing Paul helping Ashka and Gryvon make gunpowder, Riana alerts Correon to Ashka's deception.

The two groups converge on the ruins of a Spellbinder castle that was destroyed in the Darkness time to witness the testing of Paul's gunpowder. Despite the successful test, Ashka refuses to release Paul.

Correon lures Ashka away from the castle and confronts Gryvon who has been left to watch Paul. Correon orders Paul released. He now sees that Paul's knowledge is too dangerous for this world and must be returned to his own home. When Gryvon runs off, Paul falls into the old ruins when he and Riana give chase.

On Paul's world, Katrina arranges for her and Alex to return to the site of Paul's disappearance by joining a literature camp.

Secrets of the Spellbinders

Episode 8

Down inside the ruins of the ancient Spellbinder castle, Correon finds long-lost Spellbinder artifacts including plans for constructing powersuits and flying ships. He also makes a startling discovery — it wasn't the Marauders that caused the Darkness but the Spellbinders themselves when they tried to increase their powers. Paul thinks his description of the Darkness could be that of a nuclear winter. Correon calls the ancient Spellbinders arrogant fools and is concerned Ashka is starting down the same path.

Back at the castle, Ashka realises she's been tricked into returning by Correon. Overhearing Correon radio the other Regents telling them of his intention on sending Paul back to his own world, Ashka asks for, and is granted, the Regent's permission to stop him.

At their literature camp, Alex and Katrina slip away from the group to try and work out what happened to Paul. Somehow Alex's radio picks up Ashka's broadcast about Paul. After searching out walkie talkies to try and talk, Alex and Katrina are found out after hours by the teacher and are sent to bed.

Pursued by Ashka in a flying ship, Riana destroys Correon's Eyestone to keep them from being tracked. The group then diverts to Riana's home of Clayhill to take an unwell Correon to see the Healer. When Riana's mum finds Gryvon tied up in the barn the next morning, she releases him, but the others are already long gone.

Alex is just getting into the discussion on Homer's Odyssey at the lterature camp when Katrina pulls him away to try using the walkie talkies to talk to Paul.

Meanwhile, at the Summoning Tower, Correon attempts to recreate the circumstances of Paul's arrival using his powersuit. He is able to open a weak portal to Paul's world where Alex and Katrina are on hand to see it — and Paul on the other side! However, Correon's powersuit fails before the portal can fully open and Paul and Correon must retreat when Gryvon and his father arrive.

Encouraged by seeing the portal open, Katrina and Alex try to use their walkie talkies. Their signal is picked up by Ashka in her flying ship but once again the teacher arrives to interrupt — their ruse has been discovered.

At another Summoning Tower, Correon, Paul and Riana are set upon by Marauders.

The Labyrinth

Episode 9

Correon tries to use his powersuit to fend off the Marauders but it is to no avail and he, Paul and Riana are captured. Surprisingly, one of their Marauder captors is Zander (the young man Paul helped build a flying toy) who was rescued from his banishment by the Marauders.

Paul sabotages the Summoning Tower to prevent an approaching Ashka from following them in her flying ship, and Paul, Correon and Riana depart with the Marauders.

Seeing Paul's distinct footprints at the tower, Ashka is determined to find him to stop Paul from giving the Marauders the secret to gunpowder which would put the Spellbinders at their mercy.

After leading Ashka and Gryvon astray, Paul, Riana and Correon are blindfolded and taken to the Marauder's hidden camp. The Marauders want to punish Correon for the Spellbinder's mistreatment of them and, despite Paul's protest, vote to banish him to the wastelands, a development that will prevent Paul from getting back home. That night, Paul releases Correon and the two attempt to escape but they get lost in the maze-like rock formations surrounding the camp.

On Paul's world, Katrina's parents have forbidden her from seeing Alex and no one believes their story about Paul's disappearance, it is simply too fantastic.

Alex thinks his friend Nathan, who works with electronics, can help. Earning his friend's sympathy with a sob story about his and Katrina's forbidden relationship, Alex asks for Nathan's help to rig up a radio and recording device so they can get proof of Paul's whereabouts for his father.

Desperate Measures

Episode 10

Paul and Correon are found in the rock labyrinth by Riana and Zander who, now convinced that Paul is from another world, agrees to help him escape — even if it means helping a Spellbinder. They are soon discovered by the rest of the Marauders who are determined to keep Paul away from the Spellbinders in order to obtain the secret to gunpowder for themselves.

The Marauders show Paul the wastelands and threatens to send Correon there unless Paul helps them. Hoping to dissuade them, Correon shows them the ancient Spellbinder text he found that tells how the ancient Spellbinders' hunger for knowledge almost destroyed the world. Correon volunteers to be banished to keep the knowledge of gunpowder safe.

Meanwhile, Alex and Katrina blackmail his brother Nick into driving them back into the mountains to where Paul disappeared. Once there, Katrina and Alex set up their equipment and are able to listen in on Ashka and Gryvon's Eyestone communications. Realising Paul is in danger, they turn up their stereo to warn Paul.

The music (Chocolate Rapper) is loudly played out over Ashka and Gryvon's Eyestones which they quickly discard. Alerted to the danger, everyone in the Marauder camp flees into the rock labyrinth but in the commotion, Paul and Zander are caught by Ashka and Gryvon while Correon is recaptured by the Marauders.

Not wanting the Regents to learn about the mistakes made by the Spellbinders of the past, Ashka destroys the ancient Spellbinder journal, lest it lead the Regents deciding not to pursue the knowledge of gunpowder.

Riana locates Ashka's discarded Eyestone and hears Katrina and Alex trying to make contact but her reponses are not heard by Katrina and Alex. While the Marauders are rejoicing at having an Eyestone to monitor Spellbinder activity, Riana departs the camp to find Paul to tell him his friends are trying to contact him.

Back at the castle, Ashka tells the other regents that Correon was killed by the Marauders and is given authority to do whatever it takes to subdue the Marauders. Paul is returned to the castle cellar and Ashka demands he produce gunpowder.

Meanwhile, Correon has been released by the Marauders and has returned to the castle as well. In his dishevelled state he is not recognised by the guards but manages to slip into the castle during a commotion Paul has created in the cellar while supposedly making gunpowder.

Escaping from the cellar, Paul makes his way to the Regents chamber and tells them of Ashka's deception. Ashka tries to silence Paul but her lie is exposed when Correon bursts into the room.

The Centre of Power

Episode 11

Ashka stops Correon from telling the Regents about the Spellbinders being the cause of the Darkness by invoking Spellbinder law, challenging him to a duel for calling her a liar.

Back at the Marauder camp, Zander stops Riana from returning to the castle — she knows too much about them. She appeals to him by saying that although he can't go home after being banished, he can at least help Paul return to his home. Zander relents and leads her out of the labyrinth.

Paul helps Correon prepare for his challenge against Ashka but Gryvon sneaks into Correon's chambers and sabotages Correon's powersuit. After seeing Correon off to the challenge, Paul returns to Correon's room where he comes across evidence of Gryvon's tampering. Paul rushes to stop the challenge but is not allowed entry. Paul is able to distract the two guards using his video camera but it is too late, Correon's powersuit has failed and Ashka has won. Accordingly, the Regents renounce Correon as a Spellbinder and order his banishment. Before Correon leaves, Paul gives him his radio so he can listen in to the Spellbinders' communications

Riana arrives at the castle and climbs the wall to gain entry. She sees Paul held captive and follows him to Ashka who has moved into Correon's study. Paul uses his camera to secretly record Ashka admitting to her plan to defeat the Regents and take over. Gryvon sees this and tries to stop Paul but Riana arrives in time to help Paul escape.

Pursued through the castle, Paul and Riana, who has told Paul that Katrina has been trying to contact him, stumble upon the Spellbinders' energy source deep under the castle. When Ashka corners them, Paul disrupts the power centre, and the magnetic properties of the metal frame attract Ashka in her powersuit, trapping her. Gryvon comes to Ashka's aid but must remove his own powersuit to do so. With everyone helping Ashka, Riana and Paul slip away taking Gryvon's powersuit with them. With no other option left to them, Paul and Riana climb aboard a Spellbinder flying ship to make their escape. Paul is unable to master the controls as Ashka and Gryvon close in.

Meanwhile, Alex continues to try to contact Paul but is having no luck.

Spellbinder Jack

Episode 12

Paul is able to figure out the controls of the flying ship allowing him and Riana to escape the Spellbinder castle. While travelling back to Riana's home of Clayhill, Paul is able to use the Eyestone in the flying machine to contact Alex and Katrina back in his world and arranges for them to recreate the conditions that opened the portal.

Paul plays back Ashka's confession from his video camera for the Regents who are also listening in. Hearing this, Ahska takes the drastic measure of shutting down the castle's power stones to stop the transmission. This also causes a power loss in the flying machine and Paul and Riana crash to the ground.

Trapped under the wreckage, Riana frees Paul with the help of a passing farmer who mistakes Paul for a Spellbinder since he is wearing a powersuit. In search of a healer for Paul, they come across a community of woodcutters who take them in. Paul enjoys his new-found status as a Spellbinder but he and Riana must again flee into the forrest when they are revealed as impostors.

Paul and Riana stumble across Ashka and her guards but escape by jumping into the river. Washed ashore downstream, Paul and Riana finally reach Clayhill. Riana is reluctant to enter the village, hoping if she stays away from her family they will be safe from any reprisals by the Spellbinders. Riana's father finds them trying to steal a chain and wants to turn Paul over to the Spellbinders for endangering Riana but she convinces him to help Paul in return for all he's done for their family. Unfortunately, it may be too late — the Summoner has spotted them.

Meanwhile in Paul's world, Alex and Katrina are unable to convince Paul's father that they've found Paul in a parallel world, and in the wastelands, an exhausted Correon is found by Zander and Lukan.

The Final Challenge

Episode 13

After sending Riana home, her father demands an explanation from Paul as to why the Spellbinders are after them. Paul shows him the video of Ashka's confession, explaining he wants Riana to show it to the Regents.

Ashka and Gryvon report to the Regents at the castle that Paul was washed away in the river, ending the threat of an invasion from his world. However, when the Summoner reports in that Paul and Riana are in fact at his village, Ashka departs for Clayhill with Gryvon, determined to recover Paul's camera with her confession.

Back in Clayhill, the Summoner bursts into Riana's home and detains Paul, intending to take him to the Spellbinders to be judged. On hearing that her family will face punishment for helping Paul, Riana's mother has a change of heart in regards to the Spellbinders and helps Paul escape by giving the Summoner and his men a sleeping potion.

On Paul's world, Alex helps a grounded Katrina sneak out of her house and the two catch a train and then befriend a nun at the train station to get a ride to the school camp site.

Arriving at Clayhill to find Paul and his camera gone, Ashka and Gryvon head to the Summoning Tower where they expect to find Paul. In hiding, Riana overhears their plans and sets out to help Paul.

At the Summoning Tower, Paul uses the chain to short out the tower but no portal appears. Ashka and Gryvon arrive at the tower and attempt to stop Paul. Upon hearing Katrina radio Paul that she and Alex are in position, Ashka pretends to be Riana and responds that it's safe to open the gateway.

With Riana's help, Paul escapes from Gryvon but finds Ashka standing between him and the portal which opened when Alex and Katrina hung up a new cable on their world. Ashka tries to stop Paul using her powersuit but only manages to damage the Summoning Tower and Paul is able to return to his world through the portal.

Seeing Ashka about to attack Riana back on the other side of the portal, Paul pulls his friend through the portal into his world. As he does, the damaged Summoning Tower fails, closing the portal and stranding Riana in Paul's world.